Impact and lessons learned from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) clinical trails of physical activity to prevent mobility disability

Authors: PAHOR, MARCO - University Of Florida; GURALNIK, JACK - University Of Maryland; ANTON, STEPHEN - University Of Florida; AMBROSIUS, WALTER - Wake Forest University; BLAIR, STEVEN - University Of South Carolina; CHURCH, TIMOTHY - Acap Healthworks; ESPELAND, MARK - Wake Forest University; FIELDING, ROGER - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; GIL, THOMAS - Yale University; GLYNN, NANCY - University Of Pittsburgh; GROESSL, ERIK - University Of California; KING, ABBY - Stanford University; KRITCHEVSKY, STEPHEN - Wake Forest University; MANINI, TODD - University Of Florida; MCDERMOTT, MARY - Northwestern University; MILLER, MICHAEL - Wake Forest University; NEWMAN, ANNE - University Of Pittsburgh; WILLIAMSON, JEFF - Wake Forest University

Submitted to: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2019
Publication Date: 2/27/2020
Citation: Pahor, M., Guralnik, J.M., Anton, S.D., Ambrosius, W.T., Blair, S.N., Church, T.S., Espeland, M.A., Fielding, R.A., Gil, T.M., Glynn, N.W., Groessl, E.J., King, A.C., Kritchevsky, S.B., Manini, T.M., McDermott, M.M., Miller, M.E., Newman, A.B., Williamson, J.D. 2020. Impact and lessons learned from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) clinical trails of physical activity to prevent mobility disability. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 00:1-10, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16365.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16365

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: BACKGROUND. Walking independently is basic to human functioning. The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) studies were developed to assess whether initiating physical activity could prevent major mobility disability in sedentary older adults. METHODS. We review the development and selected findings of the LIFE studies from 2000 through 2019, including the planning phase, the LIFE pilot study, and the LIFE study. RESULTS. The planning phase and the LIFE pilot provided key information for the successful implementation of the LIFE study. The LIFE study, involving 1,635 participants randomized at 8 sites throughout the U.S., showed that compared with health education, the physical activity program reduced the risk of the primary outcome of major mobility disability (inability to walk 400 m - hazard ratio HR=0.82 [95% CI, 0.69-0.98], P = .03), and that the intervention was cost-effective. There were no significant effects on cognitive outcomes, cardiovascular events, or serious fall injuries. In addition, the LIFE studies provided relevant findings on a broad range of other outcomes, including health, frailty, behavioral outcomes, biomarkers, and imaging. To date, the LIFE studies have generated a legacy of 109 peer reviewed publications, 19 ancillary studies, 38 independently funded grants and clinical trials, and advanced the development of 59 early career scientists. Data and biological samples of the LIFE study are now publicly available from a repository sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (https://agingresearchbiobank.nia.nih.gov). CONCLUSIONS. The LIFE studies generated a wealth of important scientific findings and accelerated research in geriatrics and gerontology, benefiting the research community, trainees, clinicians, policy makers, and the general public.